Municipal Clerks’ Week May 6-12, 2018

A Proclamation, issued by the Winter Haven City Commission April 23 resolves the week of May 6 – 12, 2018 is designated as Municipal Clerks Week

Unanimously adopted City Commissioners, the Proclamation extends appreciation to all municipal and deputy clerks for services they provide their communities. Specifically, the Proclamation cites that Clerks “serve as the professional link between the citizens, local governing bodies and agencies of government at other levels,” and was presented to Winter Haven City Clerk, Vanessa Castillo, MMC (Master Municipal Clerk), Deputy City Clerk Joy Townsend, CMC (Certified Municipal Clerk), and signed by Mayor Bradley T. Dantzler. It also honors municipal and deputy clerks for “continually striving to improve the administration of their duties through participation in education programs, seminars, workshops and annual meetings of their state, province, county and international professional organizations.”

The International Institute of Municipal Clerks (IIMC), a professional association of city, town, village, borough, deputy and county clerks, sponsors Municipal Clerks Week. IIMC has 14,500 members throughout the United States, Canada and 15 other countries.

IIMC President Mary Kayser, MMC, and city secretary for the City of Fort Worth, Texas, urges municipal and deputy clerks to highlight the importance of their roles and functions and the impact the municipal clerk’s office has on the public. “There are many responsibilities of the municipal and deputy clerk that the public takes for granted, such as keeping (local elected officials) advised of legislation that affects them,” said Kayser. “Yet, if clerks are inattentive in their duties, then the efficient operation of our local government is greatly affected.

“The functions of the clerk necessitate a thorough knowledge of law procedure, administration and interpersonal relations. To keep up with the consistent transformation in local government, many clerks participate in continuing education and seminars and attending Clerk Institutes,” said Kayser.

Castillo has served as Winter Haven City Clerk since 2014 and has been a member of IIMC and FACC (Florida Association of Municipal Clerks) since 2007. She earned her MMC designation in 2016. She is also active in the Winter Haven Rotary Club.

Townsend, who is also the City’s Records Manager, has been a member of IIMC and FACC since 2015 when named Deputy City Clerk. She earned CMC designation in 2017.